Sound-producing device



Maw}! a. J. ZJSCH SOUND PRODUCING DEVICE Fild March 24, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR M March 17, J, 5c

SOUND PRODUCING DEVICE ile ar 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 24, 1926 March 17, 1931. G. J. ZISCH 1,796,975

SOUND PRODUCING DEVICE I Filed March 24, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J. ZISGH, OF'NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ATVTAT'ER KENT MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICE Application filed March 24, 1926. Serial No. 96,909.

This invention relates to sound reproducing devices and more particularly to acoustic diaphragms used in connection therewith.

This invention has been made especially with reference to producing a diaphragm of such nature as to effect direct propagation of sound waves or vibrations, as received from serial or equivalent transmitting apparatus, from the source of their emanation,

in a self-sustained manner, corresponding in pitch and timbre to the original sound waves, and in contra-distinction to an initial generation of air disturbances in a small confined space, with subsequent transformation of such disturbances into sound waves by means of an amplifier, such as a horn or megaphone.

The diaphragm is of relatively large area and of conical shape, terminating at its base in a rim which is loosely mounted within a support, orentirely unconfined, so that the entire body of the diaphragm is caused to move as a unit by the impulses transmitted to it.

The object of the invention is to avoid distortion of the vibrations imparted to the diaphragm, ascribed to the usual rigid mounting, by avoiding constriction of its base edge, which may be floatingly supported or wholly free to move under the sound wave impulses transmitted to it, assuring the finest tone quality and clarity possible.

This and other analogous features are accomplished by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention as mounted on a stand.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View, showing the manner of mounting the diaphragm.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing a modified form of stand, the diaphragm being in section.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the device as pendantly supported.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a suspended type of diaphragm, parts being broken away to show the construction.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the same, parts being broken away to illustrate the interior.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a double type of diaphragm, tiltingly mounted upon a support.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary trans verse sectional view of the same, taken ap proximately on the center thereof.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the diaphragm mounting.

Figure 11 is a sectional View showing a further modification in diaphragm construction.

Referring now more in deta-ilto the drawings, the stand shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is composed of a base 15, generally circular in profile, having an ornamental portion 16 rising from its upper surface at the rear, and extending therefrom is a post 17 from which project a pair of flattened arms 18 diverging laterally as indicated.

A trilobed clamp 19 is secured by fastenings 20 to the ends of the arms 18 and post 17 these fastenings passing through a circular metallic plate 21, containing a central opening 22 of considerable magnitude this opening being covered by a fine meshed metallic net 21.

Integral with the peripheral edge of the plate is an imperforate cone 23, its base reaching towards the front edge of the base being turned reentrantly to produce a narrow annular channel 24 open at the inner side throughout its circumference.

An acoustic diaphragm 25 is made in the form of a cone from a single piece of strong, stiff yet light and vibratile material, having as little inertia as possible, such for instance as paper, and of such diameter as to coincide with the channel 24 within which the base of the diaphragm is loosely disposed, not pinched or bound, but positively free, as best seen in Fig. 3.

The apex of the diaphragm contains a small perforation and has fixed upon it a collar 27 through which passes a thin rod 26, the collar 27 being adjustably fixed on the outer extending end of the rod, the opposite, inner end of the rod is fixed to the armature 28 of an electro-magnet 29 secured to the inher face of the clamp 19 and actuated by current from a radio apparatus of any usual character. I

The diaphragm 30, shown in Fig. 4 is'supported pendently on a vertical axis by a rod 31 provided with a clamp collar 32 at the apex of the cone. In this case the lower end of the rod is engaged with an armature 33, actuated by a magnet 34, subject to impulses, these devices being carried on a receiver 35 mounted on the upper ends of an ornamental support having branched arms 36 extending from a base 37 suited to rest upon any convenient level surface.

The assembly also includes an electric lamp 38 extending upward from a socket disposed between'the arms on the base 37 Figure 5 shows a very similar structure in which the diaphragm 30 is suspended by the rod 31, the upper end of which is fixed to a sound producing device set in the terminal 40 ofan arm 41 carried by a base 42, the arm being curved to avoid contact with the coni- 'cal diaphragm, and a lamp 43 is extended upward, axially of the diaphragm, from the base 42. v

In both these devices it will be noted that the diaphragms are absolutely free of contact with any fixed part of their supports except the carrying rods 31 at their apexes, obviously being free to move unimpededly under impulses communicated to them and to deliver a full clear tone, void of any damping effect whatever.

A furth r ornamental and sound clarity effect is produced by the modified forms of diaphragms and their mountings as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

In this construction a band of metal 45 is supported by flexible elements, as chains from the ceiling of a room, this band having at tached therein a spider having arms 47 and a hub 48 to carry a sound box 50 at the center.

Extending up from the sound box and actuated by it is a rod 51 provided with adj ustable collars 52 and 53 a plurality of brackets 54 being secured interjacent the band 45 freely supporting the edge of a diaphragm 55, the apex of which is engaged by the upper collar 53 on the rod.

A smaller reversed diaphragm 56 is disposed with its base edge in contact with the main upper diaphragm 55 and held thereagainst by the lower collar 52.

A series of lamps 57 are carried on the periphery of the band 45 and a tassel 58 extends downward at the center from a silk canopy 59 covering the entire lower surface of the structure, the canopy being secured at its edge to the band 45.

: igures 8 to 10 illustrate a further modi through the apices of the conical diaphragms' 60. 60 and are provided with adiustable collars 67, 67 respectively. maintaining the diaphra ms in adjustment and transmitting sou vibrations to them.

At opposite points on the ring 62 are studs 68. their outer ends being reduced and screw threaded to receive thumb nuts 69 used to clamp a pair of supports 70 against the shoulder of the stud, these supports being fixed on a base 71 to stand uprigat and permit the diaphragms to pivot therebetween.

In Figure 11 the characteristic conical form of diaphragm is indicated by the numeral 30, the same having secured to its lower surface. a reversed diaphra m 31 of peculiar st uctureain as much as the reversed base edge 32. held to the main diaphragm, is materiallv thinner than the wall at its apex 83, the view correspon ding in other respects with the showing in Figure 6, but afl'or'ding a sti er construction.

Although I have described my improvements with considerable detail and with respec-t to certain particular forms of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to such details since many changes and modifications may well be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention in its broadest aspect.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A. sound amplifier comprising a stand,

a support carried thereby, said support having a channel shaped periphery, a conical diaphragm having its base floatingly mounted therein, and means, including a reproducing instrumentality, for transmitting vibrations produced by sound to said diaphragm.

2. The combination with a reproducer actuated by current variations produced by sound, of a vibratory diaphragm of conoidal form, adjustable means for fioatingly sup porting said diaphragm, and means actuated by said reproducer to cause said diaphragm to vibrate. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this application.

GEORGE J. ZISGH. 

